ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
PIB Headquarters
All Magnetic strip DOP ATM cards will be blocked by 31.01.2020
All Active Magnetic Strip DOP ATM cards will be blocked by 31.01.2020. Hence, all the existing POSB customers using Magnetic Strip ATM cards are requested to replace their old Magnetic Strip ATM cards and get a new EMV chip based ATM cards at the Post office where their savings account stands.
DOP Magnetic Strip ATM cards were issued for public use since 2017 and ATMs were installed across Chennai City Region. The old Magnetic Strip Cards i.e. Card Number starting with 607245, are prone to risk of unauthorized use and fraudulent withdrawals. To eradicate these security threats, new EMV chip based ATM cards are being issued to the POSB customers.
The POSB customers with old magnetic strip ATM cards will not be able to make any transactions after 31.01.2020. The POSB customers can contact the post offices with the old Magnetic ATM card and get it replaced with a new EMV chip based ATM card, according to press released by Postmaster General, Chennai City Region, Chennai 600002.
Ministry of Railways
TRAINS ON DEMAND: SPECIAL TRAIN FOR RRB EXAMINATION
Keeping in view the demands from travelling passengers especially from the Railway Recruitment Board  Examination aspirants, it has been decided to run special trains for their convenience.
More Special Trains have been planned to run for RRB Examination candidates across the country for appearing CBT Examination being scheduled in different cities.
Hatia-Cuttack Examination Special:
08046/08045 Hatia-Cuttack-Hatia Examination Special from Hatia will leave at 1650hrs  on 22nd & 24th August, 2022 towards Cuttack. In the return direction, this train will leave Cuttack at 2140hrs  on 23rd & 25th August, 2022 having stoppages at Rourkela, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur City, Angul & Dhenkanal between Hatia and Cuttack from both the directions.
This train has Two AC-3 Tier, Four Sleeper Class, Three Second Class Chair Car, Five Second Class Seating and Two Guard cum Luggage Vans in its composition.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Regular Monitoring Mechanism For Protection Of Child Rights
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is administering the Juvenile Justice  Act, 2015  which is the primary legislation for ensuring safety, security, dignity and well-being of children. The Act provides for protection of children in need of care and protection and those in conflict with law by catering to their basic needs through care, protection, development, treatment and social re-integration. It defines standards of care and protection to secure the best interest of child.
Under the JJ Act 2015 , the Child Welfare Committees have been empowered to take decisions with regard to the children in need of care and protection, keeping their best interest in mind. They are also mandated to monitor the function of the Child Care Institutions . Similarly, the Juvenile Justice Boards are empowered to take decisions regarding the welfare of children in conflict with Law . At the National and State level, the JJ Act authorizes the National/State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights to monitor the implementation of the Act .
Further, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights  was constituted in 2007 to ensure protection of rights of all children.
The Ministry is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, namely, Child Protection Services  Scheme – Mission Vatsalya to support to States and UT Governments for delivering services for children in need of care and in difficult circumstances including for Child Care Institutions , which inter-alia support for age-appropriate education, access to vocational training, recreation, health care, counselling etc.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
NMCG Team headed by DG holds review meeting in Lucknow for Namami Gange projects in Uttar Pradesh
Detailed discussions on Preparation for mahakumbh mela 2019 took place during the meeting
UP Government urged to focus on cleaning of tributaries of Ganga
Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga  Mr. Rajiv Ranjan Mishra today reviewed the progress of projects under Namami Gange programme in Uttar Pradesh.
DG, NMCG requested Chief Secretary, U. P Government, for active involvement of 26 District Ganga Committees to be constituted for the cause of Ganga Rejuvenation.
While reviewing all 30 sewerage projects being undertaken in Uttar Pradesh under Namami Gange programme, NMCG urged the UP government to complete 8 of the 10 ongoing projects by December 2018 and start work on the remaining sanctioned projects at the earliest. In addition, the UP administration was also asked to complete the repair/rehabilitation/construction work of 87 ghats by March 2019.
During the meeting, a detailed discussion on preparations of Mahakumbh 2019 at Allahabad took place. NMCG asked the UP government to expedite the process of cleaning all 35 drains in Allahabad that meets river Ganga upstream through bioremediation so that projects could be implemented well before the Mahakumbh begins.
NMCG urged the government of Uttar Pradesh to focus on tributaries of Ganga and send proposals for cities of Meerut, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Lucknow, Jaunpur so that work on cleaning of tributaries like Hindon, Ram Ganga, Kali, Gomti etc may begin at the earliest.
NMCG also raised the important issue of Solid Waste going into Ganga through drains with the government of Uttar Pradesh. UP government was requested to direct the Urban Local Bodies along river Ganga to prepare an action plan to provide adequate arrangements in the drains, stretching at least a kilometre from the river’s confluence, to tap the solid waste entering into the river.
The project of Composite Ecological Task Force Battalion  which has taken off under the aegis of Namami Gange programme was also discussed during the meeting. A Ganga Task Force will be deputed in three important towns of Allahabad, Varanasi and Kanpur to assists Ganga Rejuvenation efforts. The orientation meetings with the administration are being held. Principal Secretary, Environment and Forest, Ms Renuka Kumar while explaining the massive greening “Ganga Haritama Abhiyan” going on in Uttar Pradesh assured NMCG that necessary training shall be imparted to Ganga Task Force by the Environment Department and UP Pollution Control Board. She also suggested in the meeting to have some common training and orientation for Ganga Task Force and Ganga Praharies, a group of self-motivated volunteers along river Ganga, to maximize public participation.
The meeting was also attended by Executive Director , NMCG Mr. Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana, Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Rajiv Kumar, Principal Secretary , Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Manoj Kumar Singh and Principal Secretary , Uttar Pradesh, Ms. Renuka Kumar.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Around 1,97,136 MT Paddy procured in three States of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in KMS 2020-21
Cotton purchase on MSP for Cotton Season 2020-21 started in Haryana
Paddy procurement for 2020-21 is progressing smoothly and has commenced so far in 3 states viz Punjab, Haryana and UP. As on 01.10.2020, cumulative procurement of Paddy in KMS 2020-21 is 1,97,136 MT. The total no of farmers benefitted are 15,705 and total MSP outflow is Rs372.194 crore. The pace of paddy procurement shall pick up in a week’s time.
Cotton season 2020-21 started from 1st October. Cotton Corporation of India has geared up its infrastructure for MSP procurement. MSP Purchase started in Haryana on 01st October 2020.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Tuning of properties of Gold-nanorods using DC electric field paves way for more efficient way of detecting food contamination
In a recent study, Indian researchers have found that properties of Gold-nanorods can be tuned by applying external forces for devising sensors that can detect trace amounts of molecules, paving the way for more efficient way of detecting food contamination.
Gold nanorods have unique plasmonic properties. They can be used as sensors in the detection of minute amounts of particles  and also in the fluorescent enhancement of low-quantum yield molecules. To be used as sensors, they needed to arrange the particles in 2D arrays.
W. Zaibudeen and Ranjini Bandyopadhyay from the Raman Research Institute, Bangalore, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, tried to enhance the domain sizes of the ordered nanorods by applying an electric field. They changed the field's direction and amplitude, which provided them control over the domain morphologies.
A colloidal droplet of gold nanorods  was placed in an electric field while it was evaporating. During this event, the nanorods formed an assembly which led to the formation of very minute and distinct structures or patterns. Observation of these structures helped the researchers to understand that these gold nanorods get pushed from the droplet’s centre to its edge due to the presence of an outward flow in the drop, resulting in the formation of the coffee stain-like patterns.
When these patterns were observed using a very powerful microscope, it was seen that, while most of the nanorods gathered along the outer edge of the ring, some particles remained in a scattered arrangement in the central part of the ring. This meant that there must have been a flow that counteracted the outward flow. This counter-flow occurred due to the Marangoni effect -- a phenomenon that results from the gradients in surface tension. This effect prevents the solid particles from depositing at the edge and hence prolongs the entire process. This work has been published in the journal ‘Soft Matter’ recently.
The research team studied how the Au-NRs react in the absence and presence of DC electric field. Multiple regions of homogeneously aligned Au-NR were detected in the absence of a DC electric field. When a DC electric field was applied perpendicular to the substrate, the Au-NRs at the outer coffee ring edge rotated and aligned along the applied field’s direction. However, in other regions of the coffee ring, the orientation of the Au-NR clusters was found to be insensitive to the presence of the electric field.
The scientists concluded that, by applying external forces, the properties of these nanorods can be tuned, leading to technological implications like devising sensors for detecting trace amounts of molecules.
Publication links: DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00820j
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/sm/d1sm00820j
For more details Ranjini Bandyopadhyay  and Abigail De Souza  can be contacted.
Ministry of Development of North-East Region
North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation  Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and Department of Heritage & Tourism, Government of Haryana Sign Historic MoU
Recognizing the potential of the North Eastern Region, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji has described it as ‘Ashtalakshmi’. A significant step, under the guidance of Minister for DoNER Shri G. Kishan Reddy Ji, was taken towards leveraging the potential of tourism, crafts and culture of the north eastern states and achieving the twin objectives of ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ and ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.
A MoU between Department of Heritage & Tourism, Government of Haryana and the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation Ltd. , Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region  was signed today for bilateral, cross-cultural exchange & promotion of handicrafts, handlooms, textiles, crafts, culture and cuisine of the state of Haryana and North East India. Shri Chanchal Kumar, Secretary Ministry of DoNER, Shri M.D. Sinha, Principal Secretary, Govt. of Haryana and senior officials of MDoNER and Government. of Haryana were present. This significant and historic partnership will go a long way realizing the objectives of 'Dekho Apna Desh’ and ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.
As per the MoU, the Department of Heritage & Tourism, Government of Haryana will allow NEHHDC to participate as the Theme State in the annual ‘Surajkund Mela’ for the next 5 years. A separate zone with 60 stalls within the Surajkund Mela will be provided to NEHHDC for setting up their stalls to showcase their offerings, particularly with respect to arts, crafts, handlooms and handicrafts and cuisine free of cost.
On its part NEHHDC will coordinate / liaise with relevant departments/event organizers / agencies on behalf of the Department of Heritage & Tourism, Government of Haryana to provide it multiple platforms for participation in major festivals in the north east, such as the Hornbill Festival, Nagaland; Mon Festival, Nagaland; Sangai Festival, Manipur; Cherry Blossom Festival, Meghalaya; and Ziro Music Festival, Arunachal Pradesh.
This MoU will be a game-changer for development of tourism and empower the artisans from both the north east region and the state of Haryana to showcase their rich cultural heritage and craftsmanship, fostering a deeper appreciation and understanding of their artistry among the people while also opening up new economic markets for their products.
Ministry of Defence
INDIAN ARMY TAKES LEAD IN PROMOTING THE NATIONAL GREEN HYDROGEN MISSION
In line with the ‘National Green Hydrogen Mission’, the Indian Army has put in motion the process for installation of a Green Hydrogen based Micro Grid Power Plant project in the forward areas along the Northern borders which are not connected by National / State Grid. An MoU was accordingly signed between Indian Army and National Thermal Power Corporation Renewable Energy Limited  on 21 March 2023 at Sena Bhawan, New Delhi. On behalf of the COAS, the Quarter Master General  signed the MoU with Mr Mohit Bhargava, CEO, NTPC REL.
Indian Army is providing requisite land on lease for 25 years with a commitment to purchase generated power through a Power Purchase Agreement . The proposed projects will be installed by NTPC on Build, Own and Operate  Models at a jointly identified location in Eastern Ladakh. The project entails setting up a Solar Power Plant for hydrolysis of water to produce Hydrogen, which, during non-solar hours will provide power through fuel cells. This will set the stage for similar projects in the future and contribute towards reducing dependence on fossil fuel-based generator sets with concomitant abatement of green-house gas emissions.
With this MoU, the Indian Army has become the first government organisation to enter into an agreement with National Thermal Power Corporation Renewable Energy Limited with firm plans to roll out similar projects in the future.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Films Division to stream films on Jallianwala Bagh on 102nd Anniversary of the Martyrdom
On the 102nd Anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on 13th April, 2021, Films Division is screening three documentary films as a tribute to the martyrs of the tragedy. The films are: Jallianwala Bagh  which tells how the massacre became a turning point in the history of India’s freedom struggle, Hero of Jallianwala Bagh - Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew , a biographical film on the hero of Jallianwala Bagh, Dr. S Kitchlew and 13 04 1919 , a short film on the horrific carnage of innocent people by British army at Jallianwala Bagh and on the Memorial built to commemorate the tragic event.
The films will be streamed on https://filmsdivision.org/ @ “Documentary of the Week” and on https://www.youtube.com/user/FilmsDivision for 24 hours on 13th April, 2021.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, addressing the nation on the occasion of 77th Independence Day from the ramparts of historic Red Fort in New Delhi, says that the government has started the Vibrant Village program for border villages
Earlier, Border villages were considered the last villages of the country, but that perception has been changed, and now these villages are considered not the last villages but the first villages at the border
Around 600 Pradhans of border villages invited as special guests to witness the Independence Day celebrations, these special guests have come this far for the first time with new determination and strength
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, addressing the nation on the occasion of 77th Independence Day from the ramparts of historic Red Fort in New Delhi, said that the government has started the Vibrant Village program for border villages. He said that earlier, these villages were considered the last villages of the country, but that perception has been changed. He said that these villages are not the last villages but the first villages at the border. He said that when the sun rises in the east, the first ray of the sun touches a border village and when the sun sets, the village on this side derives benefit of its last ray.
The Prime Minister expressed his happiness that around 600 Pradhans of border villages invited as special guests to witness the Independence Day celebrations. He said that these special guests have come this far for the first time with new determination and strength.
President's Secretariat
President of India Inaugurates Centenary Celebrations of Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the centenary celebrations of the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha in New Delhi today .
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that languages connect people. There are numerous languages and dialects in India. All of them have their special nature and beauty. This diversity adds to India’s culture and well-being. He said that institutions like the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha have played a very important role in strengthening the emotional unity of our country. He noted that the Sabha has developed a network of about 20,000 Hindi campaigners.
The President said that every Indian should try to learn an Indian language other than his or her own. When a Hindi-speaking youth learns Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam or Kannada, he or she is introduced to a very rich tradition. This knowledge can create new opportunities for the individual.
Special Service and Features
Dr. S. Raju to take charge as Director General  of Geological Survey of India  by tomorrow.
Dr.S. Raju, Additional Director General and National Mission Head-III and IV, GSI has taken over the charge of Director General  of Geological Survey of India , Ministry of Mines, anesteemed geoscientific organization in the country on 1.4.2022. He hails from Pasuvanthanai village, near Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu and heowns under graduation in Geology from V.O.C. College, Thoothukudiand Masters in Geologyfrom Presidency College, Chennai. He was awarded doctoral degree in Geology from University of Lucknow for his outstanding contribution to the field of petrography and geochemistry of dykes of BundelkhandCraton. He has several research publications on national/international journals to his credits.
Dr.S. Raju joined Geological Survey of India in 1988. During the initial period of hiscareer, he was instrumental in geological mapping of Bundelkhand Granitic Complex in Uttar Pradesh and alsoexecuted investigation on gold mineralization and carried out geo-environmental appraisal of Jhansi district of Bundelkhand Region, Uttar Pradesh.With his expertise, he has also supplemented in geology of Tamil Nadu especially, establishing the metamorphic and techtono-magmatic history of the Satyamangalam Group of rocks.
He has also served as Deputy Director General of State Unit: Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, GSI Chennai from 2015 to 2018, during his tenure he has expedited several mapping and mineral exploration projects of Tamil Nadu and also he has given special emphasises on developments of Geological monuments of Tamil Nadu including National Fossil Wood park atThiruvakkarai, National Geological Monuments of Charnockite at St. Thomas Mount, Chennai.
He has conceptualized and instrumental in construction of new office cum laboratory complex with modern laboratory facilities at Chennai in the State Unit: Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
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Ministry of Finance
Examination for Confirmation of Enrollment of GST Practitioners; Last date of registration now extended up to 15th October 2018
The National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics  is conducting an examination for confirmation of enrollment of Goods and Services Tax Practitioners  enrolled on the GST Network under sub-rule  of Rule 83 and covered by clause  of sub-rule  of Rule 83 of Central Goods and Service Tax Rules, 2017. Such GSTPs are required to pass the examination before 31st December, 2018. The examination will be held on 31.10.2018 from 1100 hrs to 1330 hrs at designated examination centres across India. In this matter kindly refer Press Release dated 17th September, 2018.
The registration for this exam by the eligible GSTPs has already started on 25th September, 2018, on a registration portal, link of which has been provided on NACIN and CBIC websites under the TAB “GSTP Exam Registration”.
The last date of registration which was previously 10th October 2018, is now extended up to 15th October 2018 . All eligible candidates are requested to register themselves on the Exam registration portal urgently.
Special Service and Features
Pensioners / Family Pensioners through Postman Digital Life Certificate at the doorstep of State Government
According to a press release issued by Shri. G Natarajan, Post Master General, Chennai City Region, Department of Posts has made special arrangements for State Government Pensioners / Family Pensioners for submission of their digital life certificate through postman, from 01 July 2022 to 30 September 2022 at their doorsteps. This arrangement was made under the Memorandum of Understanding  signed between the Government of Tamil Nadu and India Post Payments Bank which is operating under Department of Posts on, 31.05.2022.
For the past two years, the state government pensioners had been exempted from submitting the annual life certificate due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, about 7,15,761 state government pensioners / family pensioners have been ordered by the State Government to submit their Life certificates in the month of July, August and September.
To avoid the hassle faced by the pensioners while going in person to submit their Life certificate, India Post Payments Bank, which operates under the Department of Posts has arranged for the doorstep service to the pensioners to submit their digital Life Certificate through Jeevan Pramaan using the biometric authentication, with a service charge of Rs.70/-
Post Master General, Chennai City Region Shri G Natarajan informed that the pensioners can generate their digital life certificate through their area postmen within few minutes by providing details like Aadhaar number, mobile number, PPO number, pension account details and biometric authentication.
The India Post Payments Bank  was launched nationwide on September 01, 2018. It is fully owned by Department of Posts operating under the Ministry of Communications, Government of India. It is expanding the banking services to every nook and corner of the country through 1,36,000 post offices and opened savings accounts for over 5 crore customers within a short span of time.
In Tamil Nadu, India Post Payments Bank  offers banking services through 10000 post offices and over 12000 postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks with smartphones and biometric devices to offer banking services.
Therefore, the State Government Pensioners / Family Pensioners can avail the doorstep facility and submit their Digital Life Certificate to their Area Postmen at the comfort of being at home.
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